“Several” State Troopers suffered non-life-threatening injuries “during a small chemical explosion” in Middletown Tuesday afternoon, according to a report by the Star-Ledger.
The troopers drove themselves to Riverview Medical Center in Red Bank for treatment following the incident, which occurred during the course of an investigation around 3p on Twin Brooks Avenue, the Sledger says, citing State Police Detective Brian Polite. The officers were later released.
A police source who asked not to be identified tells redbankgreen that one person “blew his hand off” with a homemade bomb and was transported by helicopter for treatment. The explosion that injured the troopers appeared to have occurred during a testing of materials on the scene, the source said. Those reports remained unconfirmed as of 10:45p.
The Sledger says that Polite
did not say what prompted the State Police response or if the owner of the residence was home at the time. He referred further questions to Middletown Police, who only confirmed a minor explosion occurred and said further information would be available in the morning.
The Asbury Park Press, citing unidentified “authorities,” says the explosion occurred shortly after 2p at a home at 56 Twin Brooks Avenue.
As of 10:30p, the State Police bomb squad was still in the house, the source tells redbankgreen.
